OTT Internet Television

Turner And DirecTV Renew Channel And Content Distribution Deal

Turner USA and AT&T (owners of the USA-based satellite television platform DirecTV and IPTV platform U-verse) have renewed their distribution deal to continue carrying Turner’s channels on AT&T’s TV platforms, including Cartoon Network USA and Boomerang USA. The multi-year agreement has been expanded to include comprehensive TV Everywhere rights, this will allow DirecTV and U-verse customers to stream Turner’s channels and access on-demand content on a wide selection of platforms and mobile/home media devices. The agreement also includes digital rights for AT&T’s upcoming streaming service – DirecTV Now.

DirecTV Now will be launching towards the end of this year, the new OTT (Over The Top, i.e. TV streaming via an internet connection) service will offer its customers a selection of 100 channels and on-demand content from the main television networks in the United States, there’s no long-term contract, it’s open to non-AT&T/DirecTV customers, and no satellite dish or special equipment is required as the content is streamed to the subscriber via their internet connection.

From The Turner USA Press Release:

AT&T and global media company Turner have announced a multi-year, multiplatform agreement for Turner’s leading portfolio of networks on AT&T U-verse and the DIRECTV satellite TV platform. The wide-ranging agreement also includes comprehensive TV Everywhere rights, allowing DIRECTV and AT&T U-verse customers to stream Turner’s live and on-demand content across a variety of platforms and devices, and offer digital rights for the upcoming DIRECTV NOW and DIRECTV Freeview, AT&T’s new streaming services.

“Turner’s goal as a consumer-first media company is to make our content available everywhere our audience is, and this expansive deal with AT&T helps deliver on that promise by having our leading portfolio of popular networks and premium programming available on more services and platforms than ever before,” said David Levy, president of Turner. “We’re pleased to further our relationship with AT&T and look forward to providing our leading and in-demand networks and programming to AT&T as they launch additional consumer offerings to their expansive subscriber base.”

“The Turner agreement adds more premium content to our already robust line-up of DIRECTV NOW channels available to customers when it launches this year,” said Dan York, chief content officer for AT&T. “We’re also pleased to extend our relationship with Turner and provide our customers with access to its content across all AT&T platforms and products.”

DIRECTV NOW, launching in the fourth quarter of this year, will offer customers more than 100 channels, including live and on-demand programming from top networks, as well as premium add-on options. AT&T and DIRECTV customers will be able to access and stream the service over a wired or wireless Internet connection using a variety of connected devices without requiring additional hardware, satellites, long-term contracts or credit checks.

South Korean OTT (Over The Top) internet television service, pooq has signed a distribution deal with Turner Broadcasting System Asia-Pacific for both Cartoon Network South Korea and CNN International. pooq is a live video streaming and video on demand service which can be used on PC’s, tablets and smartphones, the service currently has 400,000 paying users. With the pooq service it will be possible to view Cartoon Network and CNN International for free but only for short previews and only within South Korea. pooq is owned and operated by CAPTV (Content Alliance Platform), a joint venture company formed by leading South Korean broadcasters: KBS, MBC and SBS in 2012.

Phil Nelson, the Turner MD for North Asia made this statement regarding the channel distribution deal with pooq:

“This is the first-of-a-kind launch for us in Korea. To reach an expanded audience via an innovative new service like pooq is an important landmark in making our content available everywhere. Cartoon Network and CNN International are Turner’s international flagship brands and genuine world-class products.”

Turner USA Proposes OTT Streaming Service Idea

According to remarks by Turner’s CEO, John Martin (the chief executive of the company that owns Cartoon Network and its sister channels), Turner is proposing the idea of offering its very own OTT (Over-The-Top) internet TV service. Turner’s channels are already distributed on Dish Network’s Sling Internet TV service and sister company HBO (also owned by Time Warner) already operates their HBO Go online TV service. It is not known if the idea will go into fruition, but if not, they will consider working with other internet TV providers to distribute their content.

According to Turner’s president, David Levy, the purpose of an internet TV service is to target young people who never had their own cable television service, he stated: “The goal of whatever the company does would be to capture cord-nevers, young adults who have never had cable”.